Commentary on TNT and other WB brands

[Abedfo]

As ever I will not be watching the Vuelta sadly. I can't handle 3 weeks of unbroken Carlton especially during those very dull vuelta transitional stages. It's a shame for me but I understand many people love his commentary so I hope they enjoy the next 3 weeks.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

I don't think he should be a lead commentator for a GT anymore; use him as a 'fill in' in the middle of a stage.....

 

[Kaptain Kool]

Who would've thunk that that climb near at the old Olympic village in Barcelona is pronounced "MonSHWEESH?"

 

[Miss Violet Smith]

I'm more grateful for Robin Fomin's commentary on the Vuelta than I thought humanly possible. Or I would have to learn French very quickly.

 

[the delgados]

As ever I will not be watching the Vuelta sadly. I can't handle 3 weeks of unbroken Carlton especially during those very dull vuelta transitional stages. It's a shame for me but I understand many people love his commentary so I hope they enjoy the next 3 weeks.

On behalf of all Kirby fan(s?), we are sad to hear the news that you will not watch the Vuelta.
We wish you well during these difficult times and hope to see you next year!
Keep strong, Abedfo.
The Vuelta will miss you!

 

[RedheadDane]

As ever I will not be watching the Vuelta sadly. I can't handle 3 weeks of unbroken Carlton especially during those very dull vuelta transitional stages. It's a shame for me but I understand many people love his commentary so I hope they enjoy the next 3 weeks.

Just select another language.

 

[Abedfo]

On behalf of all Kirby fan(s?), we are sad to hear the news that you will not watch the Vuelta.
We wish you well during these difficult times and hope to see you next year!
Keep strong, Abedfo.
The Vuelta will miss you!

Thank you the delgados I hope you can enjoy a side dish of word salad with your main course 😉 😋

 

[chrisinwentwood]

As ever I will not be watching the Vuelta sadly. I can't handle 3 weeks of unbroken Carlton especially during those very dull vuelta transitional stages. It's a shame for me but I understand many people love his commentary so I hope they enjoy the next 3 weeks.

I'm in the same boat.I always turn on Eurosport to see if it's Carlton Kirby.He just spoils it for me.I ended up watching the highlights on the Welsh channel s4c last night.

 

[memyselfandI]

Just finished listening Rob Hatch interview on Bobby & Jens. Very good one. As I've personally been very harsh on him, listening this one pretty much turned table around for me.

 

[argyllflyer]

Eurosport /GCN commentary pairings season 2023 (men's elite):

(WT=World Tour; PS=Pro Series, ET=Europe Tour, AT=Asia Tour)

WT: Tour Down Under (live from 17/1): Cox & Blythe
PS: Vuelta a San Juan (live from 22/1): Kirby & Smith
ET: Challenge Mallorca: Trofeo Calvia (live on 25/1): Hatch & Blythe
ET: Challenge Mallorca: Trofeo Port D'Alcudia (live on 26/1): Hatch & Blythe
ET: Challenge Mallorca: Trofeo Port D'Andratz (live on 27/1): Hatch & Blythe
ET: Challenge Mallorca: Trofeo Serra de Tramuntana (live on 28/1): Hatch & Smith
WT: Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race (live on 29/1): Keenan, McEwen & Liggett (Host Broadcaster package)
ET: Challenge Mallorca: Trofeo Palma (live on 29/1): Hatch & Smith
ET: Grand Prix Cycliste La Marseillaise (live on 29/1): Been & Stephens
AT: Saudi Tour (live from 30/1): Cox & McEwen
PS: Volta a La Comunitat Valenciana (live from 1/2): Hatch & Smith
ET: Vuelta Ciclista Murcia (live on 11/2): Been & Smith
ET: Figuera Champions Classic (live on 12/2): Cox & Ian Field
PS: Clasica de Almeria (live on 12/2): Been & Smith
ET: Clasica Jaen Paraiso Interior (live on 13/2): Been & Smith
PS: Volta ao Algarve (live from 15/2): Hatch & Stephens (stages 1-3), Blyth (stages 4-5)
PS: Vuelta a Andalucia Ruta Ciclista Del Sol (live from 15/2): Cox & Smith
ET: Tour des Alpes-Maritimes et du Var (live from 17/2): Been & Backstedt
WT: UAE Tour (live from 20/2): Kirby & Smith
ET: Gran Camino (live from 23/2): Cox & Stephens (stages 1-2, 4), Field (stage 3)
ET: Faun-Ardeche Classic (live on 25/2): Been & Walker
WT: Omloop Het Nieuwsblad (live on 25/2): Stephens, Lloyd & Blythe
PS: Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne (live on 26/2): Hatch & Blythe
ET: Faun Drome Classic (live on 26/2): Been & Walker
ET: Le Samyn (live on 28/2): Been & Walker
WT: Strade Bianche (live on 4/3): Hatch, Lloyd & Blythe
ET: Grote Prijs Jean-Pierre Monsere (live on 5/3): Cox & Backstedt
WT: Paris-Nice (live from 5/3): Hatch & Kelly
WT: Tirreno-Adriatico (live from 6/3) : Kirby & McEwen
ET: Albert Achterhes Profronde van Drenthe (live from 12/3): Been (solo)
PS: Danilith Nokere Koerse (live on 15/3): Been & Christmas
PS: Milano-Torino (live on 15/3): Hatch & Smith
PS: Grand Prix de Denain - Porte du Hainaut (live on 16/3): Been & Smith
ET: Bredene Koksidje Classic (live on 18/3): Been & Smith
WT: Milano-Sanremo (live on 18/3): Hatch, Kirby, McEwen, Lloyd & Blythe
ET: Cholet Pays De La Loire (live on 19/3): tbc
WT: Volta Ciclista a Catalunya (live from 20/3): Kirby & Smith
WT: Classic Brugge-De Panne (live on 22/3): Cox & McEwen
WT: E3 Saxo Classic (live on 24/3): Hatch & Blythe
WT: Gent-Wevelgem (live on 26/3): Cox & Blythe
ET: La Roue Tourangelle (live on 26/3): Been & Stephens
WT: Dwars Door Vlaanderen (live on 29/3): Stephens & Lloyd
ET: Volta Limburg Classic (live on 1/4): Been & Stephens
PS: Gran Premio Miguel Indurain (live on 1/4): Walker & Field
WT: Ronde Van Vlaanderen (live on 2/4): Kirby, Lloyd, Kelly & Blythe
WT: Itzulia Basque Country (live from 3/4): Kirby & Smith
PS: Scheldeprijs (live on 5/4): Cox & McEwen
WT: Paris-Roubaix (live on 9/4): Hatch, Lloyd, McEwen & Blyth
ET: Giro di Sicilia (live from 11/4): Been & Smith
PS: De Brabantse Pijl (live on 12/4): Kirby & Lloyd
ET: Classic Grand Besancon Doubs (live on 14/4): Cox & Blythe
ET: Tour du Jura Cycliste (live on 15/4): Cox & Blythe
WT: Amstel Gold Race (live on 16/4): Kirby & Smith
PS: Tour of the Alps (live from 17/4): Hatch & Blythe
WT: La Fleche Wallone (live on 19/4): Cox & Stephens
WT: Liege-Bastogne-Liege (live on 23/4): Hatch & Blythe
WT: Tour de Romandie (live from 25/4): Stephens & Roche
WT: Echborn-Frankfurt (live on 1/5): Cox & Smith
WT: Giro d'Italia (live from 6/5): Hatch, Lloyd, Kelly, Blythe & McEwen
PS: GP du Morbihan (live on 6/5): Cox & Field
PS: Tro Bro Leon (live on 7/5): Cox & Field
PS: Tour de Hongrie (live from 10/5): Kirby & Smith
PS: 4 Jours de Dunkerque: Cox & Smith
Veenendaal Classic (live on 20/5): Been & Field
Antwerp Port Epic (live on 21/5): Been & Field
Tour de Norway (live from 26/5): Been & York
Boucle de la Mayenne (live from 26/5): Cox & Field
Van Merksteijn Fences Classic (live on 27/5): Kirby & Jens Dekker
Ronde van Limburg (live on 29/5): Marty MacDonald & Dekker
Mercan Tour Classic Alpes-Maritimes (live on 30/5): Been & Smith
Brussels Cycling Classic (live on 4/6): Cox & McEwen
Criterium du Dauphine (live from 4/6) Kirby & Smith
ZLM Tour (live from 7/6): Cox & McEwen
Dwars Door Het Hageland (live on 10/6): Walker & Field
Tour de Suisse (live from 11/6): Hatch & Jip van den Bos
Elfstedenronde Brugge (live on 11/6): Walker & Field
Tour of Slovenia (live from 14/6): Walker & York
La Route de Occitanie (live from 15/6): Kirby & Smith
Baloise Belgium Tour (live from 15/6 stage 2-5): Been & McEwen
French ITT Championships (live on 22/6): Kirby & Hutchinson
Italian Road Championships (live on 24/6): no English commentary
Spanish Road Championships (live on 25/6): Been & Yorke
French Road Championships (live on 25/6): Kirby & Smith
British Road Championships (live on 25/6): Stephens & Walker
Tour de France (live from 1/7): Kirby, Hatch, Lloyd, Kelly, Blythe & McEwen with Harris-Bass
Tour de Wallonie (live from 22/7): Been & Yorke (stages 1&2), Smith (stage 3-)
Clasica San Sebastian (live on 29/7): Cox & Smith
Circuito De Getxo (live on 30/7): Cox & Smith
Tour de L'ain (live from 31/7): Walker & Field
World Road Race Championship (live on 5/8): Hatch, Lloyd, Smith & Blythe.
World TT Championship (live on 11/8): Hatch & Smith
Tour of Leuven (live on 15/8): Ian Findlay & Field
Tour du Lumousin (live from 15/8): Walker & Yorke
Vuelta a Burgos (live from 15/8): Hatch & Stephens
Tour of Denmark (live from 16/8): Been & Smith
Arctic Race of Norway (live from 17/8): Cox & Field
Bemer Cyclassics (live on 20/8): Hatch & Blythe
Renewi Tour (live on 23/8): Hatch & Smith
Deutchland Tour (live from 23/8): Cox (solo and on site)
Vuelta a Espana (live from 26/8): Kirby, Lloyd, Kelly, McEwen & Blythe
Tour of Britain (live from 3/9): Stephens & Smith
Bretagne Classic (live on 3/9): Cox & York
Maryland Cycling Classic (live on 3/9): Been & van den Bos
GP Quebec (live on 8/9): Hatch, Smith & York
Grand Prix de Fourmies (live on 10/9): Cox & Field
GP Montreal (live on 10/9): Hatch, Smith & York
Giro della Toscana (live on 13/9): Findlay & Smith
GP de Wallonie (live on 13/9): Been & Stephens
Coppa Sabatini (live on 14/9): Findlay & Field
Kampioenchap van Vlaanderen (live on 15/9): Been & Smith
Super 8 Classic (live on 16/9): tbc
European TT Championships (live on 20/9): tbc
Tour of Luxembourg (live from 20/9): tbc
Tour de Langkawi (live from 23/9): tbc
European Road Championships (live on 24/9): tbc

 

[dennisdy]

As ever I will not be watching the Vuelta sadly. I can't handle 3 weeks of unbroken Carlton especially during those very dull vuelta transitional stages. It's a shame for me but I understand many people love his commentary so I hope they enjoy the next 3 weeks.

I can't stand him either! He makes so many idiotic comments but thinks himself clever. Today he claimed that the steepest part of the final climb was in the first part, not in the second. A third-grader could at the profile of the climb and tell that he was wrong.

 

[the delgados]

I can't stand him either! He makes so many idiotic comments but thinks himself clever. Today he claimed that the steepest part of the final climb was in the first part, not in the second. A third-grader could at the profile of the climb and tell that he was wrong.

Mistaking the grade of a climb has nothing to do with being clever. He made a mistake, just like a lot of clever people who make inconsequential silly mistakes.
My man Carlton Kirby is thinking about things that are far more advanced than reading a profile.
He's preoccupied with references to things like literature and history. He continually hones his craft of being an all-round raconteur. Profile schmofile. He's much better than that.
P.S. Did you know that Einstein's wife had to remind him to tie his shoes? Reason being is he was busy thinking about more important things.

 

[dennisdy]

Mistaking the grade of a climb has nothing to do with being clever. He made a mistake, just like a lot of clever people who make inconsequential silly mistakes.
My man Carlton Kirby is thinking about things that are far more advanced than reading a profile.
He's preoccupied with references to things like literature and history. He continually hones his craft of being an all-round raconteur. Profile schmofile. He's much better than that.
P.S. Did you know that Einstein's wife had to remind him to tie his shoes? Reason being is he was busy thinking about more important things.

You are correct. Anyone can err. However, when one of the other announcers challenged his assertion Kirby still claimed that he was right. Anyone who looks at this profile and claims that the first half is steeper is an idiot.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

What he said was that the steepest part was within the first black section, which may well be true.

He may well have uttered other clearly erroneous nonsense at other points in the commentary, as is his wont.

 

[Abedfo]

What he said was that the steepest part was within the first black section, which may well be true.

He may well have uttered other clearly erroneous nonsense at other points in the commentary, as is his wont.

If he got fact checked it would be embarrassing.

 

[the delgados]

If he got fact checked it would be embarrassing.

Depends on the criteria used. If you're the judge representing the country "I Hate Kirbystan" you are likely to pick nits.
Otherwise you might be surprised by how many mistakes are made by everyone else.

 

[dennisdy]

Today it was Robbie McEwen's turn to make a more idiotic comment than any of Kirby's. After Kuss won the red jersey and Roglic won the stage he said "Jumbo Visma may need to go back to the drawing board."

 

[IndurainsTdF1994]

there was also talk about climbing uphill in tomorrow‘s stage…

 

[Wyndbrook]

Today it was Robbie McEwen's turn to make a more idiotic comment than any of Kirby's. After Kuss won the red jersey and Roglic won the stage he said "Jumbo Visma may need to go back to the drawing board."

Nothing particularly wrong with comment, Jumbo rode all day and gained nothing on Evenepoel.

 

[Abedfo]

Depends on the criteria used. If you're the judge representing the country "I Hate Kirbystan" you are likely to pick nits.
Otherwise you might be surprised by how many mistakes are made by everyone else.

Excuse me but I'm from the Islamic Republic of Robhatchistan don't confuse it with I hate Kirbystan please

I don't hate CK, I just don't like his commentary.

 

[dennisdy]

Nothing particularly wrong with comment, Jumbo rode all day and gained nothing on Evenepoel.

His comment is idiotic because he implies that Jumbo will be dissatisfied with the results of this stage. If you rode back to the hotel on their bus do you think that they are unhappy? Are they saying: "We threw everything we had at Remco and it didn't work!" No! I'm sure that they're happy that they have the red jersey, the stage win, and the lead in the team classification.

Remember the Tour de France? They put pressure on Pogacar in every stage until he cracked. Guess what? They're doing it again!

 

[Wyndbrook]

His comment is idiotic because he implies that Jumbo will be dissatisfied with the results of this stage. If you rode back to the hotel on their bus do you think that they are unhappy? Are they saying: "We threw everything we had at Remco and it didn't work!" No! I'm sure that they're happy that they have the red jersey, the stage win, and the lead in the team classification.

Remember the Tour de France? They put pressure on Pogacar in every stage until he cracked. Guess what? They're doing it again!

I beg to differ, it's just another valid way of looking at the end result, but certainly not idiotic.

 

[GenericBoonenFan]

Oh great, if it wasn't enough that José Been is doing the Maryland Classic, she's paired up with the unfortunately not-proficient-enough-english-speaker Jip Van Den Bos. Atleast she might be able to correct some of the mistakes Been is going to make.

 

[yaco]

It appears that Been is becoing frustrated with Jip - I am not worried about her English level, but she seems to be poorly prepared and therefore struggles to give meaningful insight for the viewer.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I find Jip quite endearing when they're just talking rubbish to cover for nothing happening compared to a lot of the trite Kirbyisms for example, but she seems to be the anti-Nicolas Roche. Whereas Roche I thought had really good insight and tactical reading of the race but has had to be paired with somebody like Matt Stephens who can coax the conversation out of him and try to put him at his ease to deliver that, Jip seems to have no trouble chatting away and filling time where needed, but seems to be lacking when it comes to the basics of calling of the race which is kind of important if you're going to commentate on racing.